Device for providing stability to a utensil

Abstract

A device for providing stability to a utensil (1) comprises an elongate spigot (5) arranged to be inserted into an apertured support or the ground, and a retaining member (4) arranged to be secured to, or formed on, the base (2) of the utensil (1). The spigot (5) is releasably retainable by the retaining member (4) in either a first position in which the longitudinal axis (14) of the spigot (5) is generally perpendicular to the base (2) of the utensil (1) so as to enable the spigot (5) to be inserted into the apertured support or in the ground, or a second position in which the longitudinal axis (14) of the spigot (5) is substantially parallel to the base (2) so as to store the spigot (5) when not in use.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A device for providing stability to a utensil having a surface, said device comprising: an elongate member including an elongate portion and an end portion, said elongate portion having a longitudinal axis; and   a retaining member intended to be provided on the surface of said utensil for detachably retaining said elongate member, said retaining member having means for detachably engaging said end portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a first position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially perpendicular to said surface, and for detachably engaging said elongate portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a second position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially parallel to said surface.   
     
     
       2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end portion and said means for detachably engaging said end portion comprise interengageable screw threads. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining member has at least one wall and said means for detachably engaging said elongate portion comprises at least one aperture formed in said at least one wall. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for detachably engaging said end portion and said elongate portion comprises a channel into which said end portion slideably engages when said elongate member is in said first position and into which said elongate portion slideably engages when said elongate member is in said second position. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining member is surrounded by a skirt within which said elongate member is contained when in said second position. 
     
     
       6. An assembly for providing stability to a utensil having a surface, said assembly comprising: a device comprising an elongate member including an elongate portion and an end portion, said elongate portion having a longitudinal axis, and a retaining member intended to be provided on the surface of said utensil for detachably retaining said elongate member, said retaining member having means for detachably engaging said end portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a first position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially perpendicular to said surface, and for detachably engaging said elongate portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a second position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially parallel to said surface; and   a support having at least one aperture for receiving said elongate portion when in said first position.   
     
     
       7. An assembly for providing stability to a utensil having a surface, said assembly comprising: a device comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, and a retaining member arranged to be provided on the surface of said utensil and to releasably retain said elongate member, said elongate member being releasably retainable by said retaining member in either one of a first position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate member is substantially perpendicular to said surface, and a second position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate member is substantial parallel to said surface; and   a support having at least one aperture for receiving said elongate member when in said first position, and means for releasable attachment to either one of a stable surface and object.   
     
     
       8. A utensil comprising a container having at least one side wall and a base defining an interior of said container, said container having: a device for providing stability thereto, said device comprising an elongate member including an elongate portion and an end portion, said elongate portion having a longitudinal axis, and a retaining member intended to be provided on the surface of said utensil for detachably retaining said elongate member, said retaining member having means for detachably engaging said end portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a first position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially perpendicular to said surface, and for detachably engaging said elongate portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a second position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially parallel to said surface; and   means contained within said at least one side wall and said base for maintaining the interior of said container at a cool temperature.   
     
     
       9. A utensil having a base and a device for providing stability to said utensil provided on said base, said device comprising: an elongate member including an elongate portion and an end portion, said elongate portion having a longitudinal axis, and a retaining member intended to be provided on the surface of said utensil for detachably retaining said elongate member, said retaining member having means for detachably engaging said end portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a first position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially perpendicular to said surface, and for detachably engaging said elongate portion of said elongate member whereby the elongate member is in a second position in which the longitudinal axis of said elongate portion is substantially parallel to said surface; and   a skirt depending from said base and surrounding said retaining member and within which said elongate member is contained in said second position.